Follower construction for filing drawers



Dec. 11, 1934. F. G. VSTRAUBEL 1,983,576

FOLLOWER CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Sept. 5, 1953 2 Sheets+Sheet l 1 L. Cil i'rawbel,

Dec. 11, 1934. F. L. G. STRAUBEL FOLLOWER CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Sept. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I I I I I .I f

l I I II II I n J .4 I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I 4 "I ----4--q Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLLOWED CONSTRUCTION F63 FILING DRAWEBS Youngstown, Ohio Application September 5, 1933, Serial No. 688,226 9. Claims. (01. 129-28) This invention relates to improvements in drawers for filing cabinets and the like, and is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 670,180, filed May 9, 1933. The structure shown in Fig. l of this case also appears in the above mentioned application.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel follower construction and arrangement which cooperates with the compressor in such a way that when the drawer is filled to capacity, the drawer contents will not be forced rearwardly above the back edge of the drawer so as to prevent the drawer fully closing in the cabinet. In other words, the construction provides a follower adapted to assume a more nearly vertical position as it approaches the back of the drawer, thereby forming a surface inwardly of the drawer end, and against which the drawer contents rest.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple, practical and reliable means for mounting and manipulating the follower in the drawer. With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined inthe appended claims.

A preferred and'practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichz Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a drawer embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the follower showing a spring connected to the carrier and the support for the follower plate.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the 40 space regulating follower in the drawer.

Referringto the drawings, the drawer is designated generally as A, and as usual comprises the side walls 1, rear wall 3 and bottom 4. At the front of the drawer there is provided a tilting 45 front or drawer head designated generally as B carrying at its inner face the compressor device C. Slidably mounted within the contents receiving space of the drawer is a novel. follower r0 construction designated generally-as D.

, With reference to the follower D, it will be observed that the same includes a follower plate 33 hinged as at 34 to a carrier 35 slidably mounted in the drawer bottom, and provided at its rear side with a hingedly connected support 36 whose end of the drawer the bottom wall 4 thereof is.

inclined upwardly which elevates the shoulders 39 above the plane of the shoulders 39, while the rear extremity of the channel 4 terminates in a flat supporting surface 40. With this arrangement, it will be apparent that as the follower D is moved toward the rear end of the drawer, the plate 33 .will tend to assume a more nearly vertical position. As previously indicated, the purpose of this construction is to straighten up the plate 33 so that the drawer contents will not project over the upper edge of the back wall 3 of the drawer, and likewise the said plate will not project beyond the drawer. In this way the drawer contents and the follower plate 33 are both prev vented from interfering with the rear wall a: of the cabinet, and the filing contents of the space of the drawer may be utilized to a maximum .degree, while at the same time the drawer can readily move to its fully closed position within the cabinet. It will also be apparent that the self-righting characteristic of the follower plate 33 contributes materially to the general compressive effect ofthe compressor C, The latter tends to force the drawer contents toward the rear wall of the drawer, and except for the follower having the novel features referred to, the drawer contents would be thrown backwardly so as to interfere with closing the drawer to its fullest possible extent. Therefore, the follower plate 33 coopcrates with the compressor device C to provide both an efiicient utilization of the filing contents space of the drawer and the proper functioning of the drawer, but thesame style offollower may be used in file drawers not having hinged or tilting fronts.

If desired a spring 41 may be used to connect the carrier and the support 36 for the follower plate D. When the drawer is empty the drawer. Therefore, the spring 41, or its equivalent, is an accessory which may be used under certain conditions.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a filing drawer having a bottom wall, provided with a channel whose bottom wall is inclined upwardly at its rear end, and a follower slidable in the drawer and including a plate, means for supporting the plate at a rearward inolination throughout the major portion of the length of the drawer, and a portion of said means adapted to engage the inclined bottom wall of the channel as it approaches the rear of the drawer, thereby tending to move the plate to a more nearly vertical position. i

2. In a filing drawer having side, bottom and end walls, an adiustablerear follower mounted in the drawer, means for slidably mounting said follower to move in a horizontal plane, said follower including a hinged plate, means for supporting said hinged plate at an angle throughout the major portion of the length of the drawer, and means in the bottom of the drawer for engaging said supporting means for the plateto cause the latter to assume a more nearly vertical position as it reaches the end of the drawer, whereby the contents of the drawer will not project over and beyond the back wall of the drawer.

3. In a filing drawer having side, bottom and back walls, a rear follower slidably mounted in said drawer, said follower including a. carrier member mounted for sliding movement in the drawer, keeper elements located beneath said carrier in the bottom of the drawer, a plate hinged to said carrier, a support for said plate having its lower end adapted to engage with said keeper elements on the bottom of the drawer, said-keeper elements being arranged at a progressively inclined elevation as they approach the back wall of the drawer.

nesaeve 4. In a filing drawer, side bottom and back walls, a follower slidable in the drawer, said follower including a plate mounted for movement from an inclined to a vertical position, and cooperating means carried by the plateand the drawer bottom automatically to cause the plate to assume a substantially vertical position at the end of the drawer which will prevent the contents thereof from projecting beyond the back wall of the drawer.

5. In a' filing drawer having a bottom wall formed in a horizontal plane and provided with a channel having its bottom wall provided with looking elements and inclined upwardly at its rear end, a follower including a sliding carrier movable along the drawer bottom, a plate pivoted to the carrier, and a support for the plate having its lower end operatively related to the locking elements and inclined portion of the channel.

6. In a filing drawer having a bottom wall, a space regulating follower slidable in the drawer, and cooperating means on the follower and on the bottom wall for moving the follower to a substantially vertical position as it approaches the rear of the drawer.

7. In a filing drawer having a bottom wall, a slidable space regulating follower including a plate, means for normally supporting said plate in an inclined position, and means at the drawer bottom for engaging the said last named means for moving the follower plate to an upright position as it approaches the rear of the drawer.

8. In a filing drawer, a space regulating follower normally supported in an inclined position slidably mounted in the drawer, and cooperating means respectively on the follower and the drawer for automatically moving the follower to a vertical position as it approaches the rear of the drawer.

9. In a filing drawer having a bottom wall, a space regulating follower slidably mounted in the drawer, and cooperating means respectively on the follower and on the bottom wall for automatically maintaining a changed angular position of the follower with reference to the said bottom wall as the follower approaches the rear. end of the drawer.

FREDERICK L. G. S'I'RAUBEL. 

